November 5, 2020
Although the final results of the election remain unclear, protests broke out in cities across the U.S., with people urging that every ballot be counted in the race between Incumbent President Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
The Oregon National Guard was called into Portland after protests turned violent on Wednesday night, police said.
Authorities said at least 11 people were arrested after two groups of protesters converged in downtown Portland, with some protesters throwing objects — including a Molotov cocktail and glass bottles — at law enforcement officials.
A riot was subsequently declared.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said the Oregon National Guard was activated.
“In the interest of public safety, Governor Kate Brown, under the advice of the Unified Command, has activated the use of the Oregon National Guard to assist local law enforcement,” the Multnomah County’s Sherrif’s Office said in a tweet.
In New York City, the NYPD said they had thousands of cops already on the streets Tuesday night and would deploy more over the next few days to cease any potential unrest.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that any peaceful protests would be respected and facilitated but warned that any violence would be stopped immediately.
“We will not allow any violence. I want to be clear once again about this,” he said Tuesday.
In a memo obtained by NBC News, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea acknowledged that protests may be ongoing for weeks.
“The Nov. 3 election will be one of the most highly contested presidential elections in the modern era,” the memo wrote.
Several hundred people took to the streets on Wednesday night in Midtown Manhattan while chanting “count every vote.” Organizers called it the “Protect the Results” rally.
The New York Police Department tweeted that anyone caught with a weapon would be arrested.
As the night continued, the NYPD said that garbage fires had been started in different parts the West Village, with police arresting more than 20 people.
Several arrests were also made at a protest in Denver, police there said.
At least seven people were arrested at a Seattle rally.
Arrests were also made in Minneapolis as hundreds of demonstrators marched to protest the election as well as racism, CBS Minnesota reported.
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